By Wendella Davidson
FIFTEEN young school leavers, who, for seven months, were exposed to training in banking, through the Republic Bank Youth Link Programme, were the focus of a graduation ceremony held in their honour, in the Baramba Room of the Guyana Marriott Hotel, on Thursday.
The graduates, Abigail Gomes, Afrad Khan, Dhanraj Singh, Harshinie Deonararine, Jhasoda Rupnarain, Kumarie Ramnarine, Lennox Hopkinson, Marlon Bruce, Michael Persaud, Nickisha Clarke, Ryan Warisali, Tatyana Carter, Tia Patrina Joseph and Tomal Morris, who were chosen from schools across the country to participate in the programme, were placed on the Republic Bank’s network of banks.
Deonarine, a former student of St Joseph’s High student, was adjudged the Best Graduating Student and Valedictorian.
The training commenced following an official launch of the 2018-2019 Youth Link Programme in October 2018, and included classroom and on-the-job training in banking operations. It provided an excellent opportunity for the young school leavers representing the 11th batch to undergo such a programme, to gain insight into the demands of such a job as well as give them a competitive edge in the job market.
It was not all work, as they also had the opportunity of visiting the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, the Guyana Red Cross Society, and, for relaxation, they undertook a guided tour along the Essequibo River, with stops at some important tourist spots, including Baganara, Aruwai Resort White H2O and Fort Island.
Secretary General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Patricia La Fleur, congratulated the bank for the initiative which targets young people, noting that with such programmes on stream, the young people of Guyana will be in good hands.
To the graduates, she reminded that as they approach life there are many pertinent questions they need to ask themselves and seek to get answers. These include Who am I? What is my vision for life? and Do I have a purpose?
She urged them to take full control of their respective lives and to always conduct a self-reflection of themselves; be disciplined; humble; have respect for all walks of life; seek to avoid violence; and never give up to failure.
They were also exhorted to dream big, set goals, have a positive attitude towards life.
The ceremony was attended by Minister Keith Scott, Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, with responsibility for Labour; managers of the various branches of the bank and other staffers, along with relatives of the graduates.
The Youth Link Programme was introduced in Guyana in 2008 after being part of the Republic Bank Limited, Trinidad and Tobago Power to Make a Difference initiative for over 20 years. It was developed to bridge the gap between the end of the participants’ school life and the start of their career.
